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GW Hospital Is Verified as a Level I Trauma Center

Washington, DC (February 3, 2014) – The George Washington University Hospital has been verified as a Level 1 Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) for its expertise in providing high quality trauma care.

Being verified as a Level 1 Trauma Center means GW Hospital is equipped to handle the most critically injured patients, and has met the highest standards for trauma care, education and research. In calendar year 2013, GW Hospital’s Trauma Center saw 1,863 patients.

This achievement, known as verification, recognizes GW Hospital’s dedication to providing optimal care for its severely injured and critically ill patients. Verified trauma centers must meet essential criteria that ensure top-notch, contemporary trauma care, capability and institutional performance, as established by the ACS. These criteria mean that the trauma center has demonstrated commitment not only to patient care, but also to education, research, and community outreach.

This designation as a nationally-verified Level I Trauma Center confirms that GW Hospital has demonstrated a commitment to providing the highest quality patient care, placing GW in a class with the other leading trauma centers in the United States.

“ACS verification truly is the gold standard for trauma care in the United States,” said Barry Wolfman, CEO and Managing Director of GW Hospital. “Our physicians and clinical staff treat thousands of trauma cases a year to achieve the skill levels required for this distinction. Medical research has proven repeatedly that when it comes to trauma, the higher the volume, the better the patient outcomes.”

The verification followed an extensive review by the ACS Committee on Trauma, which was established to improve all phases of patient care in trauma centers and to prevent injuries before they occur. A review team from the ACS, consisting of nationally-recognized experts in trauma care, performed an in-depth, on-site assessment of every aspect of the trauma program at GW Hospital.

This included evaluation of community injury prevention programs sponsored by GW Hospital, pre-hospital triage and transport capabilities, trauma care in the emergency department, operating rooms, and intensive care units, and rehabilitation programs to return injured patients to their full potential.

“Verification is a very difficult and challenging process that reviews the entire spectrum of care from the moment trauma patients hit the emergency room through the rehabilitation process,” said Babak Sarani, MD, Director of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery at GW Hospital. “Earning this distinction reflects the high quality of care provided by our physicians, surgeons, nurses and the entire hospital’s clinical staff.”

GW Hospital is the primary receiving center for emergencies that may occur in the nation's monuments and government complexes in downtown Washington, D.C. In 1981, GW Hospital played a major role in saving the life of then-President Ronald Reagan, after an assassination attempt left him severely wounded.

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The George Washington University Hospital is owned and operated by a subsidiary of Universal Health Services, Inc.(UHS), a King of Prussia, PA-based company, that is one of the largest healthcare management companies in the nation.

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